Portable mast



30, 1963 L. c. CERNOSEK 3,366,407

PORTABLE MAST Filed June 28, 1965 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 100/) C. Cerfio e/i INVENTOR.

v K W ,4 from/5 m c. CERNOSEK Jan. 30, 1968 PORTABLE MAST 5 Sheets-Sheet (5 Filed June 23, 1965 INVENTOR. 13 Y% AI'IOAA/E VJ Jan. 30, 1968 L. c. CERNOSEK 3,366,407

PORTABLE MAST BY K @WXK? ATTORNEVJ Jan. 30, 1968 L. c. CERNOSEK PORTABLE MAST 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 28, 1965 INVENTOR. WY/(Q S; BY

ATI'O/P/Vf V5 United States Patent 3,366,407 PORTABLE MAST Louis C. Cernosek, Houston, Tex., assignor to The Youngstown Sheet and Tube Company, Boardman, Ghio, a corporation of Ohio Filed June 28, 1965, Ser. No. 467,637 7 Claims. (Cl. 287-58) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This patent discloses a telescoping mast of three sections in which the mast may be raised and lowered by raising and lowering the traveling block relative to the crown block. The intermediate and upper telescoping sections are raised simultaneously. Three different bridle arrangements are shown. In one instance, separate lines are provided for each mast section. In the other two forms of invention, the raising line is tied in one case to the upper section and in the other case to the intermediate section. There is also shown a latch system which automatically latches upon a moving section being moved up to latched position. Upon further upward movement the latch is moved into inoperative position and held in inoperative position during downward movement of the movable section.

This invention relates to drilling rigs. In one aspect, it relates to a system for raising and lowering a triplesection mast. In another aspect, it relates to a latch system for latching sections of a telescoping mast together.

Triple-section masts have been used in the past. However, there has not been available a simple, inexpensive system for raising simultaneously the intermediate and upper section of the mast with upward movement of the traveling block.

It is an object of this invention to provide a system for raising and lowering a triple-section mast with raising and lowering of the traveling block.

Another object is to provide a system for raising and lowering a triple-section mast with raising and lowering movement of the traveling block with the intermediate and upper sections raised simultaneously.

Another object is to provide a system of raising a triple-section mast with a single upward pass of the traveling block, and for lowering such triple-section mast with a single lowering pass of the traveling block.

Telescoping masts are latched together in extended position. Many different types of latch systems have been proposed in the past. These have conventionally required actuation of the latch system by a member of the crew up in the mast, or manipulation of remote control apparatus by workmen at the base of the mast. These prior art systems have required precautionary measures to prevent accidental unlatching, and danger is always present where a workman is required in the derrick structure while it is being raised or lowered and latched into place.

Another object of this invention is to provide an automatic latch means for a telescoping mast.

Another object is to provide a latch means for a telescoping mast in which the latch means automatically actuates on raising of the mast to latch position and automatically deactuates upon raising of the mast beyond the latch position to permit lowering of the mast.

Other objects, features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the drawings, the specification and the claims.

In the drawings, wherein illustrative embodiments of this invention are shown, and wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a triple-section mast;

3,366,497 Patented Jan. 30, 1968 ice FIGURE 2 is a diagrammatic view of a triple-section mast illustrating a raising system for the mast;

FIGURE 3 is a diagrammatic view illustrating another system for raising the triple-section mast;

FIGURE 4 is a diagrammatic illustration of still another form of mast-raising system;

FIGURES 5A, B, C and D are views partly in crosssection and partly in elevation of the securing system of this invention for securing mast sections together, and showing in FIGURE 5A one of the movable mast sections moving upwardly; in FIGURE 5B the mast sections being secured together against downward movement of the movable section; in FIGURE 5C the securing means being retracted by raising of the movable mast section; and in 5D the lowering of the movable mast section with the securing means in retracted position;

FIGURE 6 is a birds-eye view partially in elevation and partially in cross-section of a portion of the securing means taken along the line 6-6 of FIGURE 5B;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary view taken along the line 77 of FIGURE 6; and,

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURE 7 and illustrating the manner in which the securing system is released by raising of the movable mast section.

The triple-section drilling mast illustrated in FIGURE 1 includes the lower section 10, the intermediatemast section 11, and the upper mast section 12. The mast is mounted on a suitable base indicated generally at 13. A drawworks indicated generally at 14 is provided for paying out and taking in the line 15 which extends up to the crown block 16. In the conventional manner, the line 15 is trained over several sheaves of the crown block 16 and a traveling block such as traveling block 17 shown in FIGURE 2. The dead line or free end 15a of line 15 is secured to the structure 13 as at 1512.

By this invention there is provided a raising and lowering system for extending and collapsing the mast with a single pass of the traveling block, that is, a single raising or a single lowering of the traveling block. As there are two movable sections, the upper section must be moved a greater distance than the intermediate section, and provision is made for accomplishing this by raising the upper section at a greater rate.

One form of raising and lowering system is shown in FIGURE 2. In this system, a pair of sheaves 18a and 1817 are mounted on the lower end of the upper mast section 12. A pair of cables 19a and 19b extend from the traveling block 17 and are anchored to the upper end of the intermediate mast section 11. These cables 19a and 1% are trained over sheaves 18a and 18b, respectively. Thus, upon upward movement of the traveling block relative to the intermediate mast section 11, the upper mast section 12 will be moved upwardly relative to the intermediate mast section 11.

Sheaves 21a and 21b are mounted on the upper end of lower mast section 10, and sheaves 22a and 22b are.

intermediate and upper mast sections are of substantially equal length such that the upper mast section will travel twice as far as the intermediate mast section, the ratio of movement of the upper mast section to the intermediate mast section is, of course, two to one. With this system, raising of the traveling block 17 to the top of the mast 3 will of course result in full extension of the entire mast. Of course, the several cables should be such that they begin raising the movable sections as the traveling block 17 is raised from its lowermost position.

Referring now to FIGURE 3, a modified form of raising system is illustrated. This raising system is substantially similar to that shown in FIGURE 2 except that the sheaves 21a and 21b are omitted and cables 24a and 24b are substituted for the cables 23a and 23b of FIGURE 2. These cables 24a and 24b are connected to the upper end of the lower mast section 10 and the lower end of the upper mast section 12 and trained over the sheaves 22a and 22b, respectively. Thus, as the upper section is raised by upward movement of the traveling block 17, the intermediate mast section 11 is raised. Due to the fact that the intermediate section is raised by movement of the upper section, the rate of movement of the upper mast section 12 is, of course, greater than the rate of movement of the intermediate mast section 11.

In FIGURE 4 still another mast-raising system is shown. In this system, the raising of the intermediate mast section is identical to the system for raising the intermediate mast section shown in FIGURE 2. The method of raising the upper mast section 12 differs. At the upper end of the intermediate mast section 11, sheaves 25a and 25b are provided. Cables 26a and 26b are attached to the lower end of the upper section 12 and to the upper end of the lower section 10 and trained over the sheaves 25a and 25b, respectively. Thus, as the intermediate section 11 is raised by upward movement of the traveling block 17, the upper mast section 12 is raised. Again the rate of movement of the upper mast section 12 is, of course, greater than the rate of movement of the intermediate mast section 11.

In all three systems for raising and lowering the mast, balance is obtained by a symmetrical arrangement in which the several raising cables are effective on opposite sides of the movable sections of the mast. Of course, this system need not be necessarily employed, and other sheave and cable arrangements which follow the concept of this invention could be utilized. However, the use of the symmetrical systems with the sheaves located on opposite sides of the mast is preferred to avoid imparting to the mast any components of force other than in the vertical direction.

Reference is now made to FIGURES through 8 wherein the means for securing sections of the telescoping mast together is illustrated. While it will be apparent that the relationship of elements could be reversed, the illustrated embodiment shows the movable parts of the securing system in the upper mast section and the fixed parts of the system in the lower mast section. The system would be used to secure the lower to the intermediate mast section of FIGURE 1, and also the intermediate to the upper mast section of FIGURE 1. Of course, it could be used to secure together a mast having only a single movable section. In the explanation to follow, the mast sections will be referred to as upper and lower, but they could of course be the'lower and intermediate, or intermediate and upper sections of the mast shown in FIG- URE 1.

Means are provided in the system for locking the upper mast section against downward movement relative to the lower mast section. Preferably, the lower mast section has a pair of confronting faces 100a and These confronting faces have slots 101a and 10112 therein. A pair of latch blocks 102a and 1021; are carried in suitable guideways 103a and 10312 in the upper mast section 104. These latch blocks extend out into the slots 101a and 10117. The lower mast section 105 includes the reinforced plates 106a and 10Gb which have their upper extremities A at the lower ends of slots 101a and 101b, respectively, and provide a supporting surface for the latch blocks 102a and 10%. Thus, when the latch blocks are extended,

the Weight of the upper mast section is supported on the lower mast section through the latch blocks.

The latch blocks 102a and 10% are constantly urged away from each other and into said slots 101a and 1011). Thus, when freed from the mechanism to be hereinafter explained, they automatically will extend into the slots 101a and 10112 when in register therewith.

Any suitable means may be employed for urging the latch blocks away from each other. In the illustrated embodiment, the latch block 102a is provided with a tubular shank 106. The latch block 102b is provided with a cylindrical shank member 107 which is smaller in diameter than the inner diameter of the tubular shank 106 and telescopes therein. The shank 106 has an abutment surface 108. The shank 107 has a confronting abutment surface 109. A spring 111 is positioned about the two shanks and in compression between the two abutment surfaces to thus urge the two latch blocks away from each other. If desired, a suitable cover for the spring may be provided by a cylindrical cover member 112. This cover member is preferably carried by the shank 106 and is secured to the abutment plate 108.

With the exception of the time when the latch blocks are in the mast-supporting position shown in FIGURE 5B, lock members 113a and 113!) are positioned in slots 114a and 114b, respectively, in the latch blocks 102a and 10%. As will be explained hereinbelow, suitable mechanism is provided which will automatically lift the lock members from the locking slots and permit 'automatic extension of the latch members when the latch members are opposite the slots in the lower mast section.

The structure of the upper mast section in the vicinity of the latch blocks is reinforced to support the upper mast section on the lower mast section through the latch blocks. Preferably, a pair of thick plates 1 15a-and 11511 are provided in the box sections 116a and 11617, respectively, which form a pair of the vertical components of the upper mast section. These plates are substantially thicker than the wall section of the box member. The guides 103a and 10% for the latch bloc-ks are provided by box sections of structural steel welded in the members 116a and 11Gb. Additional support is provided for the guideways by welding the several angle irons 117a and 11717 to the guideways and the supporting mast members above the guideways. Similarly, angle iron sections 1170 and 117d are welded to the guideways and the supporting structure at positions below the guideways. These lower angle irons and the lower portions of the guideways 103a and 103-1) provide surfaces 118a and 1181; against which stops 119a and 11% carried by the latch blocks 114a and 11417, respectively, may strike to limit outward movement of the latch blocks. 7

From the above explanation, it will be apparent that when the upper section is being raised as illustrated in FIGURE 5A, the lock members are in their slots and a the latch blocks are held against outward movement. It

is also preferred that the confronting surfaces 101a and 101b be imperforate surfaces so that thelatch blocks may slide against these surfaces as shown in FIGURESA, but this is not necessary. As the upper section reaches a position where the latch blocks are in register with the slots in the lower section, the lock members 113:: and 11312 are raised to release the latch blocks, and these blocks project into the slots 101a and 101b to support the upper mast section. I

Means are provided for retracting the latch blocks upon upward movement of the upper mast section. This means is preferably provided by retractor plates 121a and 121b carried by the lower mast section 105. These retractor plates are positioned in register with the slots 101a and 101b and diverge outwardly and downwardly from the surfaces a and 100b, respectively. As shown in FIGURE 5C, upward movement of the upper mast section will result in contact of the latch blocks with the retractor plates. As the plates converge in an upward direction, they provide inclined surfaces which force the latch blocks to their retracted position as shown in FIGURE C. When the latch blocks reach their retracted position, the lock members 113a and 113b drop into the slots 114a and 11417, respectively, to retain the latch bloc-ks in retracted position and permit lowering of the upper mast section past the slots 101a and 1(B1b as shown in FIGURE 5D.

Reference is now made to FIGURES 6 through 8 wherein the control system for the lock members is illustrated. This system includes a trip system for raising the lock members when the latch blocks are in register with the slots which is eifective upon upward movement of the upper mast section and is ineffective upon downward movement of the upper mast section.

The latch members 113a and 1131) are nonrotatably mounted on an actuator arm 122. This arm is mounted on the guideway 1013b by suitable journal members 123 and 124. An identical journal member is journalled about the other end of the arm and is mounted on the guideway 1030. This journal is not shown. Means are provided for urging the actuator arm in a direction to place the lock members in their slots in the latch blocks. This means may be provided by spring 125 on the actuator arm 122. The actuator arm has in its end a threaded stud 12-6. Rotatably mounted on this stud is a trip arm 127. The

trip arm is held on the stud by nut 12%. Surrounding the stud 126 and suitably secured to the trip arm as by welding is a sleeve 129. This sleeve has a slot 130 therein which when viewed along the rotational axis of the actuator arm 122 extends for approximately 90. The slot terminates in a surface 130a which extends laterally of the mast. This surface preferably extends horizontally. The other terminus 1301) of the slot extends longitudinally of the mast and preferably in a vertical plane. Thus, the trip arm is free to move between the two surfaces 130a and 139b. It will be noted from FIGURE 7 that the dimension of the trip arm is such that limited rotation is permitted Within the confines of these two surfaces 130a and 13%. This system provides a one-way lost motion connection between the actuator arm and the trip arm.

Means for actuating the trip arm on upward movemerit of the upper section is provided by a trip member 131. This trip member is mounted on the lower mast 195 and lies in the path of the trip arm when the arm is extended horizontally as illustrated in FIGURE 7. Upon continued upward movement of the upper section, the trip arm is actuated by the trip member and rotates the actuator to raise the lock members 113a and 1131b and release the latch blocks to permit the latch blocks to extend and engage the lower mast section. This is illustrated in FIGURE 8. During the time that the retractor plates are urging the latch blocks to retracted position upon raising of the upper mast section from the securing position, the trip arm moves upwardly past the trip member. Once it disengages the trip member, the spring 125 rotates the actuator arm counter-clockwise as viewed in FIGURE 7 to return the lock member to the position shown in FIGURE 7. It will be noted that the trip arm extends horizontally in this position. However, the trip arm will be above the trip member instead of below as shown in FIGURE 7. Then, upon downward movement of the upper mast section the trip arm is free to rotate counterclockwise within the slot 130 and past the trip member 131.

The operation of the securing system is illustrated sequentially in FIGURES 5A through 5D. In FIGURE 5A the upper mast section is shown moving upwardly with the latch blocks 102a and 102b in retracted position. The lock members 113a and 11311 are in engaged position and the latch blocks are running against the confronting surfaces ltltla and 1130b of the lower mast section. As the latch blocks approach the slots 101a and 101b, the trip arm 127 engages the trip member 131. The trip arm is in engagement with surface a and therefore continued upward movement results in rotation of the actuator arm 122 to raise the lock members 113a and 11317 to the positions shown in FIGURE SB. When these lock members are raised and the latch blocks reach a position of register with the slots ltlla and 101b in the lower mast section, they are extended by spring 111 to the position shown in FIGURE 5B. This is the normal operational position of the mast. It will be noted that the sole action necessary to engage the securing means is merely the raising of the upper mast section to the securing position.

When it is desired to lower the mast, the upper mast section 104 is raised from the securing position. As is moves upwardly, the retractor plates 121a and 121b are engaged by the latch blocks and efiect retraction of the latch blocks as illustrated in FIGURE 5C. While the latch blocks are retracting, the trip arm 127 moves above the trip member 131, and lock member 113a and 1131: are returned to their locking position as shown in FIGURE 5C by spring 125. This action prevents extension of the latch blocks into their slots upon subsequent lowering of the upper mast section. During the locking action, the lost motion connection between the trip arm and the actuator arm permits the trip arm to rotate relative to the actuator arm and pass the trip members.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention are illustrative and explanatory thereof, and various changes in the size, shape and materials, as Well as in the details of the illustrated construction, may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A drilling mast comprising:

a lower mast section,

an intermediate mast section telescoped with the lower mast section,

an upper mast section telescoped with said intermediate mast section,

said mast sections in nonrotating telescoping relationship with each other,

and securing means responsive to raising said intermediate and upper sections to selected positions for automatically latching said three sections together and preventing downward movement of the upper and intermediate sections and responsive to further raising movement of the intermediate and upper sections to render said securing means inoperative and permitting lowering of said intermediate and upper sections.

2. 'A drilling mast comprising:

a lower mast section,

an upper mast section telescoped with said lower mast section,

one of said sections having support means,

latch block means carried by said other section and mounted for movement laterally of the mast from a retracted position to an extended position for engaging said support means, means urging said latch block means toward extended position,

retractor plate means on said one section moving said latch block means from extended to retracted position with upward movement of one of said latch block means and said retractor plate means past the other,

and lock means carried by said upper and lower mast sections selectively locking said latch block means in retracted position during downward movement of one of said latch block means and said support means past the other and unlocking said latch block means and permitting extension thereof during upward movement of one of said latch block means and said support means past the other.

7 3. A drilling mast comprising: a lower mast section, an upper mast section telescoped with said lower mast section, support means on said lower section, latch black means carried by said upper section and mounted for movement laterally of the mast from a retracted position to an extended position overlying said support means, means urging said latch block means toward extended position, retractor plate means on said lower section extending downwardly and away from said latch block means and moving said latch block means from extended to retracted position with upward movement of said latch block means past said retractor plate means, and lock means carried by said upper and lower mast sections selectively locking said latch block means in retracted position during downward movement of said latch block means past said support means and unlocking said latch block means and permitting extension thereof during upward movement of said latch block means past said support means. 4. A drilling mast comprising: a lower mast section, an upper mast section telescoped with said lower mast section, said lower section having spaced supports, retractor plate means on said lower section above said supports extending downwardly and outwardly of said lower section, latch blocks carried by said upper section and mounted for movement laterally of the mast from a retracted position inboard of said supports to an extended position overlying said supports, means urging said blocks toward said extended position, and lock means selectively controlling movement of said latch blocks, said lock means including a trip member on said lower mast section and a one-way lost motion connection eflective to release said latch blocks upon upward movement of said upper section and to permit said lock means to hold said latch blocks in retracted position as they move downwardly past said supports. 5. A drilling mast comprising: a lower mast section,

an upper mast section telescoped with said lower ,means urging said lock members toward engaged position,

an actuator for moving said lock members to disengage d position,

a trip member on said lower section,

and a trip arm having a one-way lost motion connection with said actuator and engageable with said trip member on movement of the upper mast section,

said one-way lost motion connection operative on upward movement of the upper mast section to'etfect release of said lock member and on downward movement of the upper mast section permitting movement of the trip arm relative to the actuator to permit the trip arm to be actuated by the trip member without moving the actuator to permit the lock members to remain engaged.

6. In a telescoping mast,

an automatic latch for latching the upper and lower mast sections together in extended position comprising,

latch blocks for latching the two mast sections together,

retractor means on one mast section for retracting the latch blocks on raising of the upper mast section until the blocks pass the retractors,

lock membars for holding the latch blocks in retracted position,

and actuator means operative in response to upward movement of the upper mast section to a selected position to disengage the lock members from the latch blocks to permit the latch blocks to latch the two mast sections together,

said actuator means being inoperative during downward movement of the upper mast section.

7. A drilling mast comprising:

a lower mast section,

an upper mast section,

said mast sections in nonrotating telescoping relationship with each other,

and securing means responsive to raising said upper section to selected position for automatically latch. ing said two sections together and preventing downward movement of the upper section and responsive to further raising movement of the upper section to render said securing means inoperative and permitting lowering of said upper section.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,602,625 7/ 1952 Cofling I 285-303 2,740,504 4/1956 Bailey 52-121 2,829,741 4/1958 Selberg et a1. 52-121 2,942,700 6/1960 Parmenter et al 52-121 3,047,107 7/1962 Parmenter et a1. 285-303 3,168,336 2/1965 Lawrence 285-58 3,196,991 7/1965 Johnson et a1. 285-58 3,312,487 4/ 1967 McIntyre 285-302 CARL W. TOMLIN, Primary Examiner.

W. L. SHEDD, Examiner. 

